Spotify’s Commercial Car Crash, Car Thing, is Now No More

All of Spotify’s Car Thing products are now officially obsolete.

The product, released exclusively in the US in February 2022 was marketed as a vehicle accessory designed to provide a seamless listening experience, regardless of a car’s age or model. The product was particularly appealing to drivers of older vehicles with limited tech capabilities, featuring a compact design, a smartphone-like interface that could be mounted on the dashboard with a rotating dial and voice-activated “Hey, Spotify” functionality for hands-free control while driving.

At the time of its launch, the device generated significant interest, with Spotify reporting over two million customers on the waitlist ahead of production. Despite the initial buzz, the hardware debut faced challenges. Just a few months after Car Thing’s release, Spotify discontinued production, citing low demand and supply chain issues as primary factors in their decision.

The company never disclosed official sales figures for the product.

Earlier this year, Spotify announced it would phase out Car Thing entirely by 9 December 2024. Users were informed via a message displayed on their devices that read, “Car Thing is discontinued and no longer operational. Thank you for being on this journey with us, safe travels. For more information, visit carthing.com. Contact customer service by no later than January 14, 2025, to discuss your refund options.”

Initially, Spotify advised users to simply reset and dispose of their devices, offering no refunds. This decision was met with strong backlash which led to a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of prematurely rendering Car Thing obsolete. In response, Spotify reversed its stance and introduced a refund programme for affected customers.

In the wake of its decision, the streaming giant stated it would be shifting its future focus to developing other new products and features.

Car Thing users seeking a refund must contact Spotify’s customer service team by 14 January 2025. After this date, refund claims will no longer be accepted.